Zool
Zool: Ninja of the "Nth" Dimension, developed and published by Gremlin Graphics Software 1992.
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Player's Review
HE'S AN INTERSTELLAR COSMOS DWELLER, QUICKER THAN A FLASH AND SHARPER THAN THE 7 SAMURAI... ZOOL - NINJA OF THE "Nth" DIMENSION
Once every year, the games world is rocked by a game so stunning, so fast, so colourful, so big, so demanding, so mega, so awesome, so varied, so incredible, and so full of fabulous features and unexpected treats, that everybody just looks at it and says "THAT'S IT!" This year, ZOOL, THE NINJA FROM THE "Nth" DIMENSION, is definitely "IT!"
The original Zool was released in multiple versions for Amiga 500, 1200 and CD32. Console versions came later and play like Zool 2 with Zool levels. The A500 version played here (lets call it the original) differs from the A1200 by not having any background graphics as well as a different information layout. Loading is quite long in both games but made a little better with loading music in the A500 game and strangely levels load quicker using music instead of sfx. Loading screens have been left in but heavily trimmed for time. Like many Amiga games, you get the option of Music of SFX but not both together which can be a mood killer for a game that's meant to be high speed destruction, kind of like sonic. One thing to note on the sweety level some platforms have hidden jumps that appear like a blister. I did not notice any of these in the A1200 game.
There are six worlds containing three stages each with a different theme. Some are fairly easy allowing you to pretty much run through it, destroying everything in your way. Others are very maze like requiring some exploration. There is a time limit but that's not a huge issue. To exit a stage you need collect a set amount of collectables scatters throughout the level. Some are hidden behind walls you need to find a way to. The percentage counter is bugged though so you may end up collecting more than you need, but it helps for scoring I guess. There are four secret bonus stages to find which are like shoot em up stages. you only get one shot at them and the collision detection is really bad.
The longlay is played using the default SFX sound. After completing the game I show each music track with some gameplay, Its quite annoying that the game has multiple tunes but you can only choose one that plays throughout the whole game. I also set fast mode (at end of the game) which is just bonkeres and the game feels like its falling apart trying to keep up. I show each of the bonus levels where accessible as well as the Gamesmaster bonus at stage 1-3 which requires waiting until timer drops to 50 seconds remaining before the wall can be opened. In this longplay I also disabled inertia which turned out to be an annoying mistake when trying to jump between tight spaces.
Overall, its not bad game and it's one game that most if Amiga owners would have played or at least known about. But it's not without its issues. The Boss battles whilst as simple as just shooting a specific point is made really annoying by having lots of enemy fire on screen that can be difficult to evade draining you energy in seconds. The guitar and robot bosses are particularly annoying. Then there are the notorious music levels which require you to play a tune on the piano to complete the stage. Now it's not difficult and the solution is only a few screens away but its a show stoper on an otherwise run and gun game.
00:00:00 Title Music
00:03:20 Sweet World 1
00:05:26 Sweet World 2
00:07:26 Sweet World 3
00:13:30 Music World 1
00:14:38 Bonus Level 1
00:17:16 Music World 1
00:19:20 Bonus Level 2
00:22:13 Music World 1
00:24:25 Music World 2
00:29:05 Music World 3
00:33:50 Fruit World 1
00:36:33 Fruit World 2
00:38:32 Fruit World 3
00:41:56 Tool World 1
00:42:50 Bonus Level 3
00:45:26 Tool World 1
00:49:48 Tool World 2
00:54:22 Tool World 3
00:59:37 Toy World 1
01:00:42 Bonus Level 4
01:03:33 Toy World 1
01:05:45 Toy World 2
01:08:42 Toy World 3
01:13:00 Fair World 1
01:16:55 Fair World 2
01:18:56 Fair World 3
01:22:10 Ending
------------------------------
01:24:53 Sweet World 1 (Rock)
01:27:19 Music World 1 (Green
01:31:27 Fruit World 1 (Rave)
01:34:15 Tool World 1 (Funk)
Once every year, the games world is rocked by a game so stunning, so fast, so colourful, so big, so demanding, so mega, so awesome, so varied, so incredible, and so full of fabulous features and unexpected treats, that everybody just looks at it and says "THAT'S IT!" This year, ZOOL, THE NINJA FROM THE "Nth" DIMENSION, is definitely "IT!"
The original Zool was released in multiple versions for Amiga 500, 1200 and CD32. Console versions came later and play like Zool 2 with Zool levels. The A500 version played here (lets call it the original) differs from the A1200 by not having any background graphics as well as a different information layout. Loading is quite long in both games but made a little better with loading music in the A500 game and strangely levels load quicker using music instead of sfx. Loading screens have been left in but heavily trimmed for time. Like many Amiga games, you get the option of Music of SFX but not both together which can be a mood killer for a game that's meant to be high speed destruction, kind of like sonic. One thing to note on the sweety level some platforms have hidden jumps that appear like a blister. I did not notice any of these in the A1200 game.
There are six worlds containing three stages each with a different theme. Some are fairly easy allowing you to pretty much run through it, destroying everything in your way. Others are very maze like requiring some exploration. There is a time limit but that's not a huge issue. To exit a stage you need collect a set amount of collectables scatters throughout the level. Some are hidden behind walls you need to find a way to. The percentage counter is bugged though so you may end up collecting more than you need, but it helps for scoring I guess. There are four secret bonus stages to find which are like shoot em up stages. you only get one shot at them and the collision detection is really bad.
The longlay is played using the default SFX sound. After completing the game I show each music track with some gameplay, Its quite annoying that the game has multiple tunes but you can only choose one that plays throughout the whole game. I also set fast mode (at end of the game) which is just bonkeres and the game feels like its falling apart trying to keep up. I show each of the bonus levels where accessible as well as the Gamesmaster bonus at stage 1-3 which requires waiting until timer drops to 50 seconds remaining before the wall can be opened. In this longplay I also disabled inertia which turned out to be an annoying mistake when trying to jump between tight spaces.
Overall, its not bad game and it's one game that most if Amiga owners would have played or at least known about. But it's not without its issues. The Boss battles whilst as simple as just shooting a specific point is made really annoying by having lots of enemy fire on screen that can be difficult to evade draining you energy in seconds. The guitar and robot bosses are particularly annoying. Then there are the notorious music levels which require you to play a tune on the piano to complete the stage. Now it's not difficult and the solution is only a few screens away but its a show stoper on an otherwise run and gun game.
00:00:00 Title Music
00:03:20 Sweet World 1
00:05:26 Sweet World 2
00:07:26 Sweet World 3
00:13:30 Music World 1
00:14:38 Bonus Level 1
00:17:16 Music World 1
00:19:20 Bonus Level 2
00:22:13 Music World 1
00:24:25 Music World 2
00:29:05 Music World 3
00:33:50 Fruit World 1
00:36:33 Fruit World 2
00:38:32 Fruit World 3
00:41:56 Tool World 1
00:42:50 Bonus Level 3
00:45:26 Tool World 1
00:49:48 Tool World 2
00:54:22 Tool World 3
00:59:37 Toy World 1
01:00:42 Bonus Level 4
01:03:33 Toy World 1
01:05:45 Toy World 2
01:08:42 Toy World 3
01:13:00 Fair World 1
01:16:55 Fair World 2
01:18:56 Fair World 3
01:22:10 Ending
------------------------------
01:24:53 Sweet World 1 (Rock)
01:27:19 Music World 1 (Green
01:31:27 Fruit World 1 (Rave)
01:34:15 Tool World 1 (Funk)
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